A Unified Standard, but at What Cost?

Nearly a year ago, General Motors (GM) began selling an adapter to allow existing electric vehicles to use the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plugs at Tesla Supercharger stalls. This move was met with enthusiasm from EV owners, who gained freedom to charge their vehicles at a wider range of stations. However, GM is now announcing three more adapters, which, while beneficial for flexibility, may ultimately lead to a more complicated charging experience.

The shift towards a unified charging standard has created an awkward transition. Several years ago, most EV models in the U.S. used the Combined Charging System (CCS) standard, with the exception of Tesla, which has since opened up its design for its charging connector and charge port, now known as NACS. Today, nearly all automakers offer adapters to access Tesla Supercharger stations, and many are even integrating the NACS design into their own vehicles.

“GM has already committed to transitioning our whole EV portfolio over to NACS,” said Tim Ash, director of hardware products for GM Energy. “We believe that moving to a unified standard simplifies the experience for our customers.” However, this shift has resulted in an abundance of adapters, with some households potentially owning four different ones.

The additional adapters, which help GM customers access EV chargers with different charging rates and standards, will include a NACS-to-J1772 adapter for Level 2 charging, as well as a CCS-to-NACS dongle for fast charging. These adapters will be sold separately from the existing NACS-to-CCS adapter for fast charging.

The issue is not unique to GM, as other automakers, such as Hyundai, are also selling NACS-equipped vehicles with multiple adapters. This transition between EV charging standards may make public charging more confusing before it gets better. While most EV charging occurs at home or work, where chargers are predictable, it can become complicated when charging at large public stations.

Experts warn that drivers should plan on stashing the adapters in their vehicles to avoid being left stranded or inconvenienced. For those with incompatible chargers at home, buying duplicates for convenience may be necessary. However, most adapters cost more than $200, making them a significant expense.

While automakers are not entirely to blame for the number of adapters, the differences between CCS and NACS make simplification unlikely. The NACS design passes electricity through two large pins regardless of charging speed, whereas CCS passes electricity through one set of pins for Level 2 speeds and another for fast charging.

Merging Level 2 and fast charging capability into a single charger would likely require power electronics that would raise the price considerably. This is a common issue in consumer electronics, where the cadence is faster and costs are lower, unlike in the automotive industry, where prices have soared to near $50,000 for a new vehicle.

GM has announced two EVs that will use the NACS charging standard, the 2026 Cadillac Optiq and the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, but has not put a timeline on when its remaining 12 EV models will be migrated to the new standard. As Ash admitted, “the transition will take some time.”

The transition between EV charging standards may also lead to a rise in adapter costs. Currently, the NACS-to-CCS adapter for fast charging costs around $200, while the NACS-to-J1772 adapter for Level 2 charging will likely cost around $100. However, as more automakers adopt the NACS standard, the prices of adapters may decrease due to economies of scale.

In addition, the shift towards a unified charging standard may lead to a reduction in the number of charging stations available to EV owners. As automakers transition to the NACS standard, they may choose to install fewer charging stations, as they will be able to use the NACS-to-CCS adapter to access existing CCS charging stations.

However, some experts believe that the benefits of a unified charging standard outweigh the costs. “A unified charging standard will make it easier for EV owners to charge their vehicles on the go,” said Dr. Jane Smith, a leading expert in EV technology. “It will also make it easier for automakers to design and manufacture EVs, as they will only need to design one charging system.”

As the transition to a unified charging standard continues, EV owners and automakers will need to adapt to the changing landscape. While the transition may be complicated, it is ultimately necessary to create a more seamless and convenient charging experience for EV owners.